Metallica Kicks German Ass

Random observations from Metallica show in Stuttgart Germany. Crowd was 90% male and I didn't spot a single family. Metallica's never been a big show with the ladies, but this is ridiculous and US shows are just full of families for the last few tours. The beers sold in the arena are HUGE - they would be pitchers in most US bars. The arena was very small. Not much more than a glorified hockey rink, no upper levels of seating - just the floor and one level of seats. I bet some high school gyms are bigger. It was stiffling hot and it seemed like everybody was smoking.
Very strange being in middle of crowd waiting for Metallica with everyone speaking German. I was wearing a Metallica shirt from the US tour that wasn't being sold here. Lots of people tried asking me about it - at least that's what I think they were doing. But once the show started I was jumping up and down with plenty of German youth screaming all the lyrics at the top of my lungs - good times. Matt and I were on the floor and it was general admission. We just hung back during Machine Head then moved into position - about 10 people away from the stage. I figured I'd last as long as I could then bail out for the some breathing room, but I kept riding the crowd closer and closer. I was just 4 or 5 people away for most of the show -- closest to the band since I saw them at The Filmore in San Fran a few years ago.
Each band member, except Lars, was right over us many times during the show. Lots of cool eye contact, close enough to read all of Jame's tattoos and enjoy Robert's many goofy faces. Being on the floor, this was more a show of survival than beging able to sit back and enjoy every song. Had to pay a lot of attention to your own safety with many mosh pits and crowd surfers - but it was all a blast. Was close enough to get my hands on a pick from Kirk and give a few smacks to the giant Metallica beach balls that dropped in the finale. Personal highlights were my first time hearing "The Wait" and "The Judas Kiss", plus it's been a long time since I heard "Wherever I May Roam" and that is just perfect to hear while traveling in Europe.
This winter I'll be seeing Metallica again back in Boston. WooHooo!!

Set List:
That Was Just Your Life
The End Of The Line
Creeping Death
Wherever I May Roam
One
Broken, Beat And Scarred
Cyanide
Sad But True
No Leaf Clover
The Judas Kiss
The Day That Never Comes
Master Of Puppets
Damage, Inc.
Nothing Else Matters
Enter Sandman
- - - - - - - -
The Wait
Phantom Lord
Seek and Destroy


I was right around the guys holding this sign all night. You can see half of Matt's mug to the left. Think I'm behind the banner.

AF Grant in Germany

Quick update from Katzweiler Germany. On our first day we visited Ramstein Air Force Base and a totally sick Castle in Landstuhl. We saw ruins from the road and Matt and Vee had never been to it so we trail blazed the narrow streets and unknown traffic signs till we came upon Castle Sickengen. Found a little info on line about it. It was very cool because they had no problem letting you climb all over the ruins.
Sunday was Happy Mosel Day and we joined thousands of people as traffic was closed down on both sides of the Mosel river and we biked, drank and ate schnitzel. It was a gorgeous day to drive through villages I'll never be able to pronounce. Scenic views of centuries old buildings surrounded by vineyards. We started and ended in Bernkastel-Kues and I think we might have biked 10 miles. Also discovered I like German wine. WooHoo!
Here is a story about Happy Mosel Day if you can't get enough.
Monday Vee, Lori and I visited Heidelberg while Matt went to work to protect the free world. We stormed Heidelberg Castle and wandered around downtown. Mullets and 80's punk are still very much the style in Germany - so I felt right at home.
Today we head south to Munich for two days - I just discovered Metallica is there tomorrow night too! Then Oberammergau in Bavaria for two days and a quick jump over to Austria just because we can.
We've all been doing the evening meditation call together for the 40 Days, 40 Nights program, that's been cool to do as a group. Due to the big time difference and flight time we are a day behind, but sticking with it.

Off to Germany

About to leave for Logan Airport to catch a flight to Frankfurt, Germany and hang with Matt and Vee for 9 days. They are living in Germany for just a few months and free couch is all the excuse we need travel. We'll be arriving in time for "Happy Mosel Day" some sort of biking and drinking festivus that closes roads to cars and just has lots of drunk, fake athletes - my middle name!
You can see an out-of-date itinerary, it has most of the things we plan to do just not in the proper order. Of course next Saturday is the BIG event; METALLICA live in Stuttgart. I'm very psyched for my first international rock show, I saw Metallica in NJ just a couple months ago, but it seems like a life time ago.
Lori and I are both doing the 40 Days, 40 Nights wealth immersion program with Kristin and David Morelli of EverythingIsEnergy.com. Today is day 4. We are part of global group of 400 people doing two live daily meditation calls and two 90 minute coaching calls a week. Will be wild trying to stay on schedule with it while we travel, but it's all good.
We got our shots for the Africa trip on Monday, so I've been confused all week as to where we are actually going today. But it is Germany now; Africa in September. Needed to get shots early to apply for visas. Here is the Africa itinerary.
More later from Germany...